香港六合彩中特网

Dr May Akrawi (BSc Biochemistry 1988, PhD in Molecular Biology 1995) specialises in emerging and disruptive technologies.

She's spent years travelling the world, working with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, BP聽and Deloitte. But despite her packed schedule, leading groundbreaking projects and advising on international policy, May always finds time to volunteer for 香港六合彩中特网.

"When I first walked into 香港六合彩中特网, it was like I'd arrived home,鈥� says May. "And I still carry that same feeling today. That鈥檚 unbelievably powerful."

Since 2021, May - who now lives in Houston, Texas - has sat on the Board of Directors for the , a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organisation in the United States. This month, she became the organisation鈥檚 president.

May says: 鈥淚 was incredibly honoured when Emily Prince, from the 香港六合彩中特网 Advancement Office, and the 香港六合彩中特网FAA Nominating Committee聽invited me to join the 香港六合彩中特网FAA Board in 2021, and even more so when elected President. We have an incredible group of dedicated alumni on the board, from whom I have much to learn. Mark Cleary, our past president, has left big shoes to fill, and he has been (and continues to be) a great mentor.鈥�

Iraq, 香港六合彩中特网, the world

May was born in Iraq to an academic family. Her father was originally offered a place at 香港六合彩中特网 to study medicine at the time when WWII broke out, so instead he went to medical school at The University of Baghdad 鈥� which was founded by two of May鈥檚 great uncles.

After her father finished his medical studies, and a further FRCS in London, he went on to work with the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Council to provide opportunities for Iraqi medical students to complete their surgical training in the UK. Her wider family also had close ties with the UK - her mother studied a BSc in Science at Reading University - and May fondly remembers many summers spent in London.

May left Iraq for London permanently aged 14 when the Iran/Iraq war broke out, and it was here where May鈥檚 fascination for science and new technology began. She says: 鈥淪omeone from the Nuffield Foundation spoke to our school about genetic engineering. This was in the 80s, and I felt like it could change the world.鈥�

She applied to all of the London universities to study biochemistry, but there was one snag. May had a phobia of rodents. 鈥淚t was the one thing that could have stopped me from doing this degree, but 香港六合彩中特网 had a solution and worked the practicals out around this for me. That felt really special and caring. It represents the support I felt right the way through my studies.鈥�

May has many happy memories of her time at 香港六合彩中特网. From her work with Professor Elizabeth Shepherd - whose lab she joined in 1988 for her PhD research in molecular biology - through to time spent with friends in the Bloomsbury Theatre. 鈥淚n my third year, my sister joined 香港六合彩中特网 to do her BSc in Computer Science. And with her came many friends that we knew from childhood,鈥� says May.鈥�

They had to pry me off the furniture, and since then, I鈥檝e never stopped loving 香港六合彩中特网.鈥�

鈥淚n 1992, I became a research assistant in Professor Shepherd鈥檚 lab, but after two years, I knew I needed to stretch my wings. They had to pry me off the furniture, and since then, I鈥檝e never stopped loving 香港六合彩中特网.鈥�

May moved to Barcelona for a postdoctoral fellowship before embarking on a varied and truly global career. She says: 鈥淚 moved to the USA in 2001, and the first job I had was at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office as HM Consul. I was Head of Science, Innovation & Climate Change, which was all about academic collaboration and policy. Naturally, 香港六合彩中特网 was a perfect partner.鈥�

鈥淭hat is the beauty of 香港六合彩中特网. The multidisciplinary environment meant we could pull people from various schools to contribute to the policy and the science we worked with. I find myself bumping into people who鈥檝e studied at 香港六合彩中特网 all over the world.鈥�

Following her role at the Consul, May has held strategic roles at the Consulate General of Norway, BP, and Deloitte before鈥� her current work as a corporate strategy consultant, where she specialises in the use of emerging and disruptive technologies in digital and energy transformations.鈥�聽

Giving it back

May鈥檚 passion for 香港六合彩中特网 has meant she鈥檚 been giving back as a volunteer for many years. She鈥檚 supported undergraduate students from underrepresented groups through the 香港六合彩中特网 Skills Mentoring Programme, given early career advice at an online alumni panel event, and is currently establishing an alumni group in Houston 鈥� with a launch event planned for 8 December.

May says: 鈥溝愀哿�合彩中特网 has given me so much across my career and personal life that now it鈥檚 an absolute pleasure to support students and recent graduates to set them up for success.鈥�

To shape this support at a strategic level, she joined 香港六合彩中特网FAA as a board member in 2021. The non-profit organisation helps to raise awareness and support for research, education, and innovation at 香港六合彩中特网. It also manages the - which supports postgraduate research students and post-doctoral researchers working in the Life and Biomedical Sciences - and the , that fund聽US students for master鈥檚 degrees at 香港六合彩中特网. This month, May is thrilled to have been appointed as President.

She says: 鈥淢y mind is wired strategically, which I hope to bring to the role. I want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to contribute in a more meaningful way to what we provide. I鈥檓 really excited to get started!鈥�

As May moves into her new role with the 香港六合彩中特网FAA, she鈥檚 keen to encourage as many former 香港六合彩中特网 students as possible to get involved with the 香港六合彩中特网 alumni community, starting with the. She says: 鈥淵ou may end up mentoring someone who will look up to you and thrive at 香港六合彩中特网 and in their career because of your help. Or it could benefit you by bringing you a new network of professionals to connect with. The schemes are run really well, and the alumni team is hugely supportive.

鈥淚鈥檝e seen so many benefits to being involved, personally and professionally, so get in touch, and get involved!

May adds: 鈥淏etween my BSc, PhD, and work as a research assistant, I spent ten of the happiest years of my life at 香港六合彩中特网. It's truly hard to put my gratitude and dedication to 香港六合彩中特网 in words.鈥�

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